Zooming in

Rich Harrington: You get the lens attached, you have framed up the shot, you have focused by eye,…and you think you have it.…Robbie Carman: Everything is perfect. Rich: But you probably don't, right?…Robbie: No, I mean, focus is one of those things that unless you're paying perfect attention…to it and testing it and checking it, your gut instinct about something being in focus…is usually going to be wrong.…So what we want to talk about today in this episode is a couple of different ways of checking your focus.…We're going to begin with sort of a method that I learned way back when, when I was in…school in sort of learning how to film and that kind of stuff, was the idea of punching…in or zooming into your subject.…

Now this is a practical technique that can be used for any object, a person, something…sitting on a table, or whatever.…The basic idea is that you're going to zoom into the object as close as you can get and…then adjust your focus to that object, maybe the point of somebody's nose, if you're…

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5/24/2016

Do you want to become more proficient with DSLR video? Knowing the technical side can make it easier to set up gear, be more creative, and get your shot right on the very first take. These tips provide answers to the most common questions videographers encounter when shooting with DSLR cameras. Learn how frame size and frame rate, aspect ratio, codecs, cropping and compression, and the "exposure triangle" (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) affect the look of your footage. DSLR Video Tips hosts Rich Harrington and Robbie Carman also help you troubleshoot common problems with video: when shots are too dark, too jittery, or impacted by rolling shutter and moiré. Plus, get tips on effective data management and setting up multicamera shoots for more complex productions.